Hey Rosie. I knew you'd still be on the case! You must have a list a mile long of stuff you're looking into for other folk and it is certainly much appreciated! Yes, I'd love to get to the bottom of this one!

I'm glad la terre moved for you Rosie!!! Oh it would be just wonderful to find out more about it - there MUST be more out there as surely it was made from a mold. And I know you never give up - thank goodness for us!

Nancy I'm curious (having not reread the entire thread you understand ) as to why they would have made a lidded box with a design on base and lid. Is yours the same size as this one? did they come from a trinket set maybe?m

I don't understand your question Michelle! Why not have the design on both parts, as does the Costebelle one I gave the link to above? (You were the first to reply to my original post on this subject BTW!) In my opinion, it's definitely too large (5" diameter) and heavy to be a trinket box. Not only that, because the outside is smooth and shiny it could easily slip out of your hand. I have come to the conclusion, though I could be wrong, that it is purely decorative and perhaps was made as a graduation piece, but I'd love to hear what others think about that. In the meantime, here are some more pics. (I wish I could find a way of showing the contours on the inside!) Thanks for your interest Michelle (don't you want to look at my nice 'head & shoulders paperweight - maybe I should change the title?)

Nancy I was just wondering if it was meant somehow to sit in a stand of some sort, kind of a raised support thing so you could see the base and the top. I love it, but I'm still curious as to why the design is on the base and the lid, since if it sat on the base it could get damaged is what I mean.I have kids home and on the computer so limited time to look at thread, but I've just seen 'Head and Shoulders' and he is absolutely wonderful - very envious.m

Oh, I think I see what you mean Michelle. The whole thing could actually sit either way up as both 'poles' (north & south) are smooth and flat. But the etching (or whatever it is) is on the inside anyway, so well protected from damage.

Hey Rosie . . . Thanks for the post. Yes, I had seen the glass baseball before but didn't really see it as very similar to my 'spherical object' except of course for the shape and that it is a bowl and lid. Everything else about it is completely different though, including the ball having the maker's mark. Do you think perhaps I'm being too dismissive?!

I've not done much looking for glass since I started working (hurrah!) - too knackered! That and having no room left cos everything is covered in glass.